John August Deibert, 89 of Spearfish, entered this earthly world on May 31, 1924 and went to his heavenly home on January 18, 2014.

John was the eighth child of thirteen born to Augustin Frank and Mary Eva (Schmaltz) Deibert in a two-room wooden house on their family homestead in Drew, South Dakota. Both of John's parents were Germans from Russia migrating to the United States from Odessa as teenagers.

John was raised in a crowded home celebrating holidays with a pot of borscht stew and homemade ice cream, with each child taking a turn at the crank. On a summer Sunday afternoon you could find him playing baseball for the Drew team against another rival on the Schmaltz pasture which served as the ball diamond.

All the children traveled three miles by foot, horse or wagon to attend the Brushy Country School located on the high ridge south of the Deibert-Schmaltz homesteads along the Bixby Road. There John won several spelling bees and proudly graduated from the Eighth Grade. He continued to live in the Drew area and was employed by local ranchers, riding drop line for sheep and working on a shearing crew.
John was drafted into the Armed Forces during WWII. His company was scheduled to deploy to Europe when he learned of his father's illness and eventual death in 1945. He then remained stateside to serve as a Fort Leavenworth prison guard to Army soldiers. He was honorably discharged after eighteen months and returned home to assist with the daily operations of the family farm.

He met Bonnie Lou Miles, from nearby Chance, in 1949 at a barn dance in Strool. They were married on the hottest day of the year July 14, 1951 in the St. James (Drew) Catholic Church by Father Murray, who flew in via a small Piper Cub airplane. The Deibert family donated the land on which the Drew Church was constructed under the supervision of John's father, Augustin Deibert, and Anton Sander, with the assistance of several family members.

John and Bonnie resided and farmed on the homestead where they relied on the two-hole outhouse and hauled water three or four times a day. Together they attended several more dances at the parish house with piano, accordion and fiddle music provided by the local Fisher family.

1952 was a banner year for John and Bonnie with the arrival of REA, bringing electric power to the farm; construction of a new barn on their property with lumber hauled from the Black Hills; and the beginning of their family, which grew to four sons; Allen, Larry, Robert and Randy. Together they enjoyed summer campouts at Shadehill and Deerfield, family reunions, and church gatherings.

John was employed by Homestake Sawmill for twenty-three years before his retirement. He then worked for nine years at the Spearfish High School as the head custodian where he was well-known for lending a quarter or two to wanting students.

John liked Sunday brunches; a good baseball game; to play cards; to go fishing and hunting; he was a wonderful dancer, a great jokester, an avid bowler; a skilled carpenter, and an accomplished horseman. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and a 4th degree Knights of Columbus. He was also a Legionnaire and an associate of the Custodial Engineers.

Preceding him in death were his parents Augustin and Mary Eva Deibert; brothers, Michael and Joesph; sisters, Margaret, Katherine, Elizabeth, Anna Marie, and Eva Mae.

Left to mourn his loss are his wife of 62 years, Bonnie; sons, Allen (Liz) Deibert, Larry (Barb) Deibert, Bob Deibert, and Randy (Lori) Deibert; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; brothers, George (Ella Fae) Deibert, August (Norma) Deibert, and Aloyisous (Carol) Deibert; sisters, Josephine Sander and Julia Kopren; and several nieces and nephews.

A special thank you is extended to his four sons; his granddaughter, Kelly Weis; Mavis Jewitt and her Hospice team; and Paula and Toni of Comfort Keepers for their expression of outstanding care and eternal love during his final days.

Visitation will be from 4-7 P.M. on Thursday, January 23, 2014 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Spearfish, Vigil service will follow at 7:00 P.M. Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:00 A.M. Friday, January 24, 2014 at the church with Msgr. Michael Woster as celebrant. Burial with military honors by the Spearfish Honor Guard, will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Memorials have been established to benefit the Knights of Columbus and Hospice of the Northern Hills.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Crematory Service of Spearfish.

Er möge ruhen in Frieden (may he rest in peace)